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Foreword
Natural resource management is applied
ecology, sociology and economics. The application of these natural and
socially constructed subjects place humans in their reality. However,
humans have limited understanding of this reality in "real time" where the
reality unfolds. Our theories of these realities are incomplete in
general, in special contexts, and in the contexts where we are confident
of our understanding. However, the prevailing perception we have as a
species is that we are experienced and technically sophisticated, and
therefore, we are able to effectively manage natural resources. We begin
to change the rules of Nature to match the rules of human technologies.
The prediction of our ability to manage seems, for a while, to be
realized. We gain confidence, and become blind to what we see as our
predictions seem consistent with our expectations. Historically, the long
view back shows us there has never been a "sustainable civilization" and
there has never been a sustainable resource. We are blind to the obvious
lessons of history by our exuberance and faith on our newly found skills,
and tools. If you doubt this summary of human history of management,
please show me a counter example that is historically a century or more
long. If you find such an example, examine its beginning and dynamics
carefully before you defend it.
Does history determine the future? I
propose that history influences the future, but we can learn
from history and change the dynamics, beginning with each individual
dawning of awareness. I am optimistic. Some would say this is foolish
since it is universally disproved by all of history. However, I counter
that this is the way science progresses with new ideas, and new models of
reality, constructed with new dynamics. Disproof is the step to
recognizing the limitations of current models -- intellectual models of a
limited reality -- and honestly admitting the failures and carefully
examining the linkages between predictions and the failures is how we
learn, and avoid repetition of the previous pattern. I believe we can
learn to ride a bicycle, which inherently is physically unstable on it's
two wheels without moving. We learn to adjust it's loading (one of us on
it controlling the dynamics of forces as we ride it). We do not know where
the surface will change, or the wind will change, or the impediments will
appear in our path. We confidently ride it while adjusting our balance and
direction in appropriate ways to continue a journey. We fall over or have
a collision when we fail to make appropriate adjustments. Management of
our ride is dynamic: monitoring what is happening, prediction in the short
term what our options are, choosing to realize one option that satisfies
(or we predict will allow us to eventually satisfy) our goal.
We need a clear image of our goal,
skill in the possible actions we can take including a clear idea of the
way possible outcomes of our actions might affect our dynamics, an
evaluation of the likely short term changes helping reach our longer term
goal, and an ability to monitor changes that occur. This is a management
concept that has been successful for many industrial systems and
refinements are made to improve the management process. The modifications
"linearize" the system by increasing "cause and effect" relationships.
Linearization of the process requires controlling as many variables as
possible so they are predictable in time of use, amount of need, and
application to achieve specific results. One of the first and very
effective system of this type is "Total Quality Management" by Deming.
However, in natural resource management, few of the variables can be
controlled and the system is very complex in the way variation in
components and functional effects produce results. It is this context of
complex interactions among components of the system, management is much
more difficult because of:
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uncontrollable timing, quantity and
form of many system components,
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long time delay between when an
interaction occurs and the results appear,
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and ultimately profound ignorance of
many functional features in biology.
This class is designed to orient
students to the reality of managing complex systems, particularly those
involving ecological systems in complex communities. The applications vary
from sustainable production with profit as one objective, to maintaining
ecological support systems in a global economy of technologically
sophisticated technologies, to conservation of biodiversity in healthy
communities, to restoration of damaged ecosystems. These often are
categorized in architecture, manufacturing, agriculture, public land
management, wildlife management, and education (including political and
marketing contexts). The broad description of this is adaptive
management whereby the trajectory of the system is kept on course by
decisions of action made "on the fly" as the system changes. The more
structured form of adaptive management presented is Holistic Management
that was conceived and originally developed by a wildlife biologist, Allan
Savory, and has evolved for more than 15 years with the contributions of
many people from many countries with a variety of objectives. Undoubtedly,
it will continue to evolve as it is implemented in multiple contexts.
R. H. (Dick) Richardson, PhD
Professor of Integrative Biology and Geography
University of Texas at Austin
January 2005
All portions of this online textbook
is copyrighted by R. H. Richardson
Permission to use portions for educational use from the
author at
d.richardson@mail.utexas.edu |